Chapter CXC: Challenge ~Naaro

Naaro got up off the crates and walked into the main car. Rynn was asleep in their chambers and he didn't want to wake her up, thus he couldn't talk to her. Exploring was always fun, even if you'd explored the same place several times, you could always find something new. So he decided to explore the kitchen. As he walked in, he saw Lich with the volatile coffee. Naaro nodded a greeting to Lich, and the orange one nodded back, carefully pouring another cup of the coffee. As Lich left, Naaro opened the fridge, and begin sifting through its contents.

"These people have the weirdest food and drink," he remarked to himself. As he 'explored' the fridge, he had a flash in his mind of a ship made of bone approaching the Spectrum, rapidly. He pulled his head out of the fridge and looked around.

"That was a bit weird," he thought. He looked at the door to the pilot car/engine/whatever it would be called on a train like the Spectrum, shrugged, and opened it. As he did, he heard Omega say, "I've got something on the radar, approaching fast."

Naaro blinked. Was it the ship of bone?

"It's gonna hit us, brace!" Omega cried as the two blips, one being the Spectrum and one being the bone ship, became one. Naaro braced himself in the doorway...and nothing happened.

Naaro blinked. Had the ship missed? Did it pull away at the last second? From the main car, Naaro heard loud outcries. He turned back and ran in to find a familiar Tyranosaurian standing in the middle of a weapon-toting group of warriors.

"Easy, easy," Rexxor said, gesturing to lower the weapons.

"Maybe if you tell us what you're doing here..." 6400 remarked, his sword at Rexxor's neck. The Tyranosaurian smirked, and began to explain.

"I came here to offer a challenge to one 'Naaro Karukylis'. Is he with you?" Naaro glared, and replied,

"Right here."

Rexxor looked over.

"Well, there you are!" Rexxor cried, still with a smirk on his face.

Naaro growled, and inquired, "What do you want with me, beast?"

Rexxor looked at the swords, umbrellas, and various other weapons pointed at him.

"I'll tell you if your friends lower their weapons. I'm not here to start a war."

Naaro looked at the others, and they looked at him. He nodded, and, reluctantly, they lowered their weapons.

"Make it good, whatever you are," 6400 hissed, keeping his hand on the hilt of his sword. Rexxor chuckled, and walked over to Naaro.

"You're familiar with Jioball, right?" Naaro nodded.

"I used to play it when I was kid," he remarked, "What of it?"

Rexxor kept his smirk. "I've set up something...'special' on Yoshin. As you probably don't know, the Jioball Finals are supposed be happening right now."

Naaro wanted to get to the point. "And?"

Rexxor looked at Naaro, and his smirk widened. "They aren't."

"Why not?" Naaro asked.

"Because I control them now. And I'm here to challenge you and your companions to a match. My squad against yours."

Naaro narrowed his eyes at Rexxor.

"You call it a challenge," Naaro said, "but it's not a challenge, because there's some sort of horrible consequence if I don't accept, making it a command. What's the consequence?"

Rexxor chuckled. "Such a smart boy...the consequence is that everybody at the finals will die. That's only if you don't accept, though."

Naaro shook his head. He looked over at the others. "Well, I'm not one to let mass slaughter happen," he remarked, adding, "What about you guys?"

Most of the group gave a nod, and Naaro nodded back. He then turned back to Rexxor.

"Alright Tyranosaurian," Naaro said with a nasty tone, "We accept your challenge."

Rexxor's smirk widened. "Delicious. Then take us to Yoshin."

He instructed the Spectrum's pilots to take the train to Yoshin. Naaro, realizing he would have the position of captain, took a spot before the group and began to explain the sport of Jioball. After finishing, he moved on to the next order of business.

"Ok, now...who wants to be what?" Naaro looked about, waiting for volunteers.

Lich was the first.

"I'll be a Doflokta, Naaro." Naaro gave a nod, writing down Lich as a Doflokta under himself. The next to volunteer was Artanis.

My skills with Psiblades will prove useful as a Bladiga.

Naaro wrote Artanis down beside one of the two Bladiga positions, and had barely finished writing before the next volunteer spoke up.

"Oh, why not, I'll be one of the Bladigas," said Sebastion. Naaro nodded, and wrote him down.

A green hand flew up, and Timber's voice cried out, "I'll be a Doflokta!!!"

"Ok, ok," Naaro chuckled, gesturing for Timber to calm down. Naaro wrote Timber's name beside the last Doflokta position.

"Well, that's everything except for the Myndika," Naaro remarked. He looked around. "Anyone?"

After a moment of silence, Kaye spoke up, "Alright, I'll be the Myndika."

Naaro nodded, and wrote her down. He then looked at the last position: Restara.

He knew right away who to get. He walked past everyone, and entered the chamber where Rynn was asleep. He gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek, and whispered, "Wake up, honey."

She smiled, and yawned gently, opening her eyes.

"Oh, it's you, baby," she said in a soft, tired-sounding voice. She cleared her throat, getting normal speech back. "What do you want hon?"

Naaro explained what had happened to her, and asked her to be Restara.

"Me? Heal everyone?"

Naaro nodded. "Yes, honey...you're the first name that popped into my head."

Rynn smiled, and kissed Naaro. "Ok Ka, I'll be Restara."

Naaro smiled back. "Great...better get ready, babe, we'll be there soon."

Rynn nodded, and as Naaro left she began to prepare for the Jioball competition.